Lawyers sue police over Amaechi’s safety

Four lawyers from Ubima community, the home town of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi yesterday said they will appear in court today over the abuse of Amaechi’s rights by the police.

The applicants- Collins Dike, Smith Azubuike, Iheanyi Dike and Friday Azubuike- will urge the court to compel the respondents, Inspector General of Police and Commission of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, to respect the governor’s rights.

The applicants are asking the court to compel the Inspector General to redeploy Mbu since his stay no longer guarantees the governor’s safety.

They are also urging the court to compel the IG to restore full security apparatus of the governor, which is part of his rights as the state’s chief security officer.

The leader of applicants, Dike, said they will tell the court to declare that the respondents have failed in their duty of protecting and ensuring Amaechi’s safety.

Dike said: “We have made our statement clear in the suit we filed. All we are praying is that the court should consider the rights of the governor and order the police to respect that. The governor cannot be crying for safety in the midst of the police.

“Everybody is aware that some of the security details attached to the governor have been withdrawn, and we are also aware that the governor no longer drives around the state as he always does while supervising numerous projects in the state. And the same governor has discovered that his life is in danger if Mbu continues, why not respect his views.

“This is the more reason why we are heading to court today to ask the court to compel the respondents to respect Amaechi’s right.”